15 Feb 2017

Chinese lanterns, food stalls and performers will get North Hagley Park glowing this weekend.

The Lantern Festival is on this Saturday and Sunday.

The Lantern Festival, hosted by Christchurch City Council in partnership with the Asia New Zealand Foundation, will be held this Saturday and Sunday nights from 5pm until 10.30pm. 

The Port Hills fires have led to a decision to call off the fireworks that were planned for this weekend's event.

The Lantern Festival has been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206 BC–221 AD). Usually held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, it marks the end of New Year festivities. This year’s festival celebrates the year of the fire rooster.

It’s a chance for visitors to experience Chinese culture and see hundreds of colorful lanterns imported from China in the form of animals, insects, flowers, people and even buildings. This year’s zodiac animal will take a starring role.

There will be Asian food stalls and non-stop entertainment from 28 performers including the Nair Ensemble, from Inner Mongolia in China’s far North West, who perform traditional Mongolian folk music – including throat singing – with their own modern interpretation.

Children will enjoy the Shanghai Shangwu martial arts bubble and magic show, which includes giant bubbles so big they can enfold an adult, a kung fu sleeves act, and the water pipe dance.

Young Chinese knotting master Zhou Lingling will be demonstrating her knot tying skills and toffee artist Huang Hongmei will show the traditional Chinese craft of painting with caramelised sugar.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Director of Culture Jennifer King says each year the foundation works with partner organisations in China to choose performers that help capture the diversity of Chine culture. The aim of the festival is to acknowledge the contributions that people of Chinese heritage have made to New Zealand, and to give non-Chinese New Zealanders the chance to have real-life, authentic experiences of Chinese culture.

 “It’s the second year of our partnership with Christchurch City Council and we’re really delighted with the way they have been dealing with the event and their commitment to authenticity.” 

Lantern festival at TwilightThere will be no parking available in Hagley Park for the event and the Botanic Gardens Armagh Street carpark will be closed to incoming traffic from 3pm with the exception of mobility card holders. Please note the entrance will be left-turn only from 3pm and a mobility pass must be visible.

Drop-off zones will be located on Park Terrace and Harper Avenue.

For up-to-date information on road closures and delays check out Transport for Christchurch. Discounted parking will be available at selected Wilson carparks with more information about travel planning and parking available here.